Yacht Club Adds Electric Boats to Fleet

Vantage Yacht Club, the premier fractional club offering shared yacht ownership and creator of the Yacht Card, announced additions to its Fleet Membership and Non-Member rental fleets today with the delivery of four electric Duffy Boats. Vantage Yacht Club is proud to announce this first electric boat initiative in Chicago as it continues to lead the evolution of the yachting lifestyle. Electric boaters will cruise the Chicago River taking in the sights and sounds of the city while promoting environmental responsibility and sustainability. These zero-emission electric boats are available to rent by-the-hour beginning April 1, 2012 from 8:00 am until midnight, seven days a week. The boats are enclosed with an overhead canopy and removable windows and will be rented throughout all four seasons. The boats are easy to operate by boaters who have no boating experience.

"While promoting environmental conscientiousness, yet still encouraging the adventurous spirit keen to Chicago and its guests," said Jason De Palma, Vantage Yacht Club Founder and President, "the electric boat manufacturers and Vantage Yacht Club will work together to create the level of awareness necessary to change the way we all view and treat the Chicago River." Vantage believes that its thousands of satisfied customers will not only begin to appreciate the Chicago River even more, but will directly join the effort to attract Chicago's decision makers to intensify River cleansing and vitalization programs. By adding hundreds of electric boats to its fleet over time, Vantage expects a sparkling Chicago River for all eventually to enjoy.

Thanks to the electric Duffy Boat launch, Vantage Yacht Club has created jobs. A newly hired team will spearhead reservations, provisioning, training, cleaning and customer service to create an unforgettable experience for Vantage electric boaters. The Club will eventually grow its staff as popularity increases and as boats are added to this "Green Fleet." United States Coast Guard Captain and Career Builder Account Executive, Sam Veith, believes that job creation is the most important benefit from the "Green Fleet" launch: "Although the market is improving, available jobs are still a rare commodity. Vantage Yacht Club is excited to offer these employment opportunities, especially when connected to something so revolutionary to Chicago. Anyone would be thrilled to join the effort."

Vantage Yacht Club's management expects similar electric boat initiatives to follow its lead. "We anticipate that others will realize the necessity to integrate excitement and sustainability to yachting; however, we also understand that many hands are needed to help transform the future of the Chicago River," said De Palma, "that said, no one will ever match the Vantage Yacht Club corporate culture and our high-level delivery of luxury service, everything else is an imitation."

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